Your garage door might have two different springs for a few practical reasons, mostly revolving around proper weight balancing and the parts the technician had on hand.
There are several reasons you might have mismatched springs. Sometimes, a past repair technician replaced only one spring instead of both, and the installer didn't match it to the remaining one. Other times, homeowners or technicians guessed at the replacement size without proper calculations.
There are two primary types of garage door springs:
To figure out exactly which garage door spring you have, close the door completely and look directly above it or along its upper tracks. There are three main types of residential garage door springs:
No, garage door springs are not universal. Each door requires a spring to counterbalance its weight, ensuring safe and smooth operation. Selecting the correct spring involves measuring the wire gauge, inside diameter, and overall length and understanding wind direction.
The optimal spring for your door is going to give you the same lifespan whether you go with the perfectly sized option or if you went three sizes up and underwound it. Both will last roughly the same number of cycles before needing replacement. So really, trying to beef up your spring system isn't the smart play.
The three primary types of mechanical springs—classified by how they store and release energy under different forces—are compression, extension, and torsion springs.
Garage door springs generally need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years, depending on how often the door is used. Springs are rated by their open-and-close "cycles" (one cycle is one full open and close) rather than years.
Yes, you can replace a garage door spring yourself if you are an experienced DIYer with the right tools, but it is highly dangerous. Springs are under immense tension. Mishandling them can lead to severe injury, property damage, or worse. Always prioritize safety by wearing protective gear and proceeding cautiously.
A garage door can still open if the spring is broken, but it takes a bit of manual effort. Trying to open it automatically with the opener could strain the motor or burn it out since the broken spring makes the door heavier to lift. We recommend not trying to open your garage door if it has a broken spring.
It usually ranges from £100-300 depending on your vehicle, and you can pay online.
No, you should not use standard WD-40 on garage door springs. Standard WD-40 is a water displacer and degreaser, not a lubricant. It will wash away existing grease, cause the springs to dry out, and can even attract dust and dirt.
Is it worth repairing a 20-year-old garage door opener? Generally, it's not. Garage door openers typically have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. A new opener is often a better purchase because it comes with updated safety features and runs more quietly.
The Cost of Replacing Just One Spring
In some cases, the uneven tension can even cause damage to your cables, drums, or opener. By replacing both springs together, you reset your system, ensuring balanced lifting power, maximum cycle life, and fewer repairs down the road.
Compression springs are the most common type of spring that are available. Its orientation is very memorable, as it is an open-coil helix. The key aspect of this spring is that it offers a resistance when the spring is compressed axially (along the central axis of the spring).
Material fatigue is the most common cause of spring failure. Repeated loading and unloading of a spring can fatigue the material and cause microscopic cracks to develop. These tiny cracks then spread, ultimately causing the spring to fail.
There are two main types of coil springs – constant rate coil springs and variable rate coil springs.
These springs are placed on either side of the door and are responsible for balancing the door's weight. Double springs are commonly used for heavier garage doors and provide more even support compared to single-spring systems.
Average Cost:
Most homeowners pay $150 to $350 to replace one garage door spring, including labor. Replacing two springs usually costs $300 to $700, depending on the spring type, door size, and local labor rates.
To determine the exact garage door spring you need, you must first identify your spring type and the total weight of your garage door. The safest and most accurate way to find this is by checking the manufacturer's label or tag, or by weighing your door on a bathroom scale.
Yes, garage door torsion springs require lubrication. Oiling them helps reduce friction between the coils, prevents rust and corrosion, and keeps the door operating quietly.
Garage door springs typically last 7 to 12 years, or about 10,000 opening and closing cycles. Because springs are rated by cycles (one full open and close) rather than calendar years, their actual lifespan largely depends on your daily usage, climate, and maintenance.